Device for equalizing the vertical movement of snow removing mechanism



Jan. 17, 1939. w. E. KLAUER 2,144,314

DEVICE FOR EQUALIZING THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 12, 1.936 6 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 17, 1939.

DEVICE FOR EQUAL Original Filed Aug. 12, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w W M w Jan. 17, 1939.

w. E. KLAUER 2,144,314

DEVICE FOR EQUALIZ ING THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 12, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W5/fer E ff/m/er,

Jan. 17, 1939. w. E. KLAUER 2,144,314

DEVICE FOR EQUALIZING THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SNOW.REMOVING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 12, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. E. KLAUER DEVICE FOR EQUALIZING THE VERTlCAL MOVEMENT OF SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 12, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 w. E. KLAUER Jan. 17, 1939.

DEVICE FOR EQUALIZ ING THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 12, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 i 42 PV'q/ferjf/Waaer,

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED. STATES navrcr: roa aqonuzmc m m'n'oar.

MOVEMENT orsNow mmovme mica- ANISM Walter E. Klauer, Dubuquo, 1m

Original application August 12, lilfldfsorial No. 95,688.. Divided and this application AIM 12, 1938, Serial No. 95,891

14 Claims;

The present invention relates to devices for equalizing the vertical movement of snow removing mechanism and particularly to such mechanism adapted for use in removing snow from streets and highways. It is concerned more particularly with such mechanism which ls carried by a motor truck.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 95,688, filed August 12, 1936.

In the past, the usual practice in the produc tion of snow removing mechanism has been to mount the same permanently on a special truck. Such an arrangement is comparatively expensive, and its expense isincreased because it can be used only during a short period of the year. The advantage of the use of trucks as compared to tractors is that such devices can move easily from one place to another as required at a high rate of speed, which is almost a necessity.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide power driven snow removal mechanism of a practical and efficient type which is arranged so that it can be readily mounted on and removed from a truck. Both the snow rcmover and the power unit for driving the same are easily and readily demountable. In this manner, the mechanism may be applied to a standard truck, which is used during the snow season to carry the snow removing mechanism, and may be used during the remainder of the year for hauling purposes as a freight vehicle.

One of the special features by which this result is accomplished resides in a special frame which acts as a carrier for the snow remover and its lifting mechanism, and which is mountable as a unit on the front of a truck in such a. manner that it rests on one of the truck chassis members and is supported directly thereby.

It is quite usual to have a snow remover mounted on the front of a vehicle in such a manner that it can be lifted or lowered either to pass over obstructions or to move at a given distance above the surface of the ground or road. In the past, however, and particularly with the rotary type of plow, to which my invention especially relates, the snow remover has been mounted in such a manner that it turns about an axis or pivot in its rising and falling movement. Such an arrangement tilts the snow remover either forward or backward, and throws it far out of line so that it does not act in its proper and intended manner. A further object of the present invention therefore is to provide a mounting for a snow remover on a vehicle such that it is capable of a substantially straight up and down movement without tilting. More especially I provide a specific mounting for giving this result. This mounting both acts as a guide to keep the snow remover in vertical position as a carrying mechanism for the snow remover, and also as a thrust resisting mechanism for imparting the force exerted on a plow by the resistance of the snow to the chassis ofthe vehicle.

Furthermore, the lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the snow remover is generally of a heavy and complicated nature. An object of the invention is to provide a simple lifting mechanism which is relatively light in weight and which is yet strong and eflective. Also, the lifting arrangement is so designed to avoid blocking the radiator of the truck. One of the principal features by which this result is accomplished resides in the fact that most of the parts of the lifting mechanism are under tension, and can thus be made in a simplified and considerably lightened form. Another important part of the invention is the arrangement of the lifting devices at opposite sides of the vehicle.

Furthermore, in vertically movable snow removers heretofore known there has been a considerable disadvantage in that the means for raising the two sides of the mechanism often do not work together and in synchronism. One side of such a device may rise as much as eight inches before the other side rises at all. Of course this often defeats the whole purpose of raising the snow remover, since instead of giving a level out at a given height, a sloping cut is obtained. Furthermore, it causes considerable strain on the parts and thus reduces the life of the device.

Another object of the invention then is to provide an arrangement which will absolutely prevent one side of the snow remover from rising faster than the other, but will equalize at all times the motion of the two sides so that the snow remover is kept absolutely parallel to the road surface.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description,'particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a snow remover embodying my invention and shown as mounted on a truck.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

Hg.3isatopplanviewshowingthesnowremover frame.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the unitary frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing the lifting, guiding and equalizing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a front view of one side of this mechanism with the snow remover disconnected.

Fig. 7 is a. top plan view of one side of the mechanism shown ,in Pig. 5 with parts broken away.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 0-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9. is a detail view of the arrangement for holding the snow remover in raised position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the snow remover is mounted on a truck A of any'standard type. This truck has a chassis consisting of longitudinal members 2, and a front cross member 4. The chassis is mounted on wheels 8, supported by axles such as the front axle I0. The wheels, preferably the rear wheels, are driven by a motor mounted in the hood I2 and provided with a radiator I4. The truck also has a cab I6 of any suitable type.

Mounted on the rear end of the truck is the power unit. The power unit consists of a motor or engine controlled by a throttle which may be operated by a lever 22 inside the cab I8 through a flexible or Bowden cable 24. The unit also includes a gasoline tank for supplying fuel to the engine and a suitable pump for forcing a liquid such as oil under pressure into a supply tank. The motor drives a clutch which is mounted in a housing and is controlled through a link and lever system 32 by a lever 34 in the cab of the truck. The clutch is adapted to couple and uncouple a shaft to and-from the motor.

0 indicates in general the snow remover. It

consists in the preferred form of a casing having side walls 38, a bottom wall and scraper blade 40 and a rear wall 42. An opening in the rear wall 42 communicates with the interior of a fan casing 48 in which is mounted a fan for ejecting snow through the spout 48. Within the casing formed by walls 38, 40 and 42 are mounted three augers or conveyors 50 on horizontal vertically spaced axes. These augers are all driven, by a suitable chain drive mechanism 41 from a sprocket mounted on a shaft 49, to feed snow towards the center of the casing so that it can pass, through the opening into the fan casing 48. The snow removing mechanism is driven through a shaft mechanism running underneath the truck. The power unit drives a shaft section 88. Section 68 is mounted in a flexible or selfaligning bearing 61 which allows variation of the angular position of the shaft with respect to the bearing. In front of the bearing 61 is arranged a universal joint 88 which drives another shaft section 89. The front end 10 of shaft 88 is reduced in cross section and fits into a coupling member II in keyed relation thereto. The members I0 and II are slidable endwise with respect to each other. Member II is connected by a. universal joint I2 to a shaft I3 which is fixed in the snow remover and drives the rotary augers and the fan thereof.

Vavrious possible mountings may be used for intermediate bearing 81. In the form shown, the bearing 81 is mounted through angle members I4 on the front axle I0 of the vehicle.

The mounting of the snow remover on the truck will now be described.

The snow remover is carried by a frame having transverse front top and bottom members 82 and 83, transverse rear top and bottom members 04 and 80, top side members 81, vertical members 88, and horizontal bottom members 88 which support the ends of scraper 40 forming the bottom portion of the wall of the auger casing.

I provide a unitary frame which may be easily applied to and removed from a truck for carrying the snow remover and the mechanism for manipulating the same. This frame is shown in Figs. 4 to 8.

The supporting and guiding unitary frame for the plow includes a front cross member I02 adapted to be secured by bolts I04 to the front cross piece 4 of the chassis and side plates I08 adapted to be secured by bolts I08 to the side frame members 2 of the chassis. The cross member I02 has secured thereto and above it another cross member II2 which extends out beyond the sides of the chassis frame. It will be noted (Fig. 8) that member II2 also extends rearwardly slightly beyond member I02, and that this extension rests on the top of front chassis member 4. In this fashion the chassis member supports the weight of the snow remover directly and the whole load thereof is not carried by the bolts.

Both the members I02 and H2 are angle irons. The side members I06 extend forwardly of the chassis frame and of the cross member I02 and at their forward ends support vertically arranged T-shaped rails having leg portions II4 bolted to the extensions H5 of the side plates and cross portions or arms II8. Plates I28 are secured to and extend downwardly from the ends of the cross member H2, and angle members I28 are secured to the side pieces I06. The parts of this frame are preferably both riveted and welded together, so that the whole frame acts as a unit which may be secured bodily to the truck and will serve as the connection between the snow remover and the vehicle.

Guide blocks or slide members I I8 are provided with T-shaped slots I20 which fit over the arms of the T rails and thus the blocks II8 are guided thereby for vertical sliding movement. Pins I22 pass through the blocks I I8 and through the arms or brackets I24 secured on the cross member 34 of the plow frame, one of these brackets being arranged on each side of each block II8. Thus the plow frame is guided at both sides for straight up and down movement.

For raising and lowering the plow a special hydraulic arrangement is provided. Through the pairs of parallel plates I26 and I28 are inserted pins I30 on which are pivotally mounted blocks I32 supporting transverse pins I34. The pins I 34 provide pivots for hydraulic cylinders I38, one on each side of the snow remover, in which are slidably arranged pistons I38.

Secured to the frame side members I08 at points to the rear of the front cross chassis member are uprights I40, which are braced by links I42 connected at one end to the uprights and at the other end to the ends of the transverse member II 2. Pivoted to the upper end of the uprights are beams or links I44, preferably I beams. These beams carry blocks I46 to which are pivoted the pistons I38 and links I48 which at their other ends are traversed by the pins I22 in the neighborhood of the outer brackets I24.

Of course one of these lifting devices is provided on each side of the plow, and the other ends of the beams I44 are connected by a spacer and bracing rod I50. It will be noted that this provides a simple and convenient mechanism for raising and lowering the snow remover without blocking in anymanner the front of the radiator of the truck. This is a special advantage since when such trucks are in operation there is danger that the engine will become overheated if the radiator is blocked.

The hydraulic cylinders I36 are supplied with fluid under pressure through flexible pipes I52, releasable connections I54 and pipes I56. The supply of fluid to pipes I56 is controlled through a handle I62 located in the cab of the truck. The

details of this control arrangement form no part of the invention, and it is sufficient to state that when the handle is moved to one position .the piston will be caused to rise, while in the other position it will drop. Fluidund'er pressure is supplied from a tank. v

In order to take the load off of this hydraulic system when the truck is being driven over long distances and the snow remover is not in use, I may provide pins I 6i adapted to pass through holes in the T rails II4 just below the blocks IIB when the same are in raised position. These pins may be secured to the T rails by chains I63 so that they will not be lost. ,Preferably the pins have pointed ends and annular grooves I64 at points spaced from the ends, so that the pressure caused by the weight of the plow exerted through engagement of blocks II8 with the ends of the pin will cause the grooves I64 to engage the sides of the openings in the rails H4 and thus prevent the pins from slipping out of position even though subjected to the shocks caused by inequalities in the road.

Additional mechanism is provided .to make certain that one side of the plow does not rise faster than the other, and to insure leveling of the snow remover at all times. Brackets I66 secured to the upper ends of the T-shaped rails II4 support a shaft I68 which extends across the front of the snow remover. At each side of the snow remover are arranged levers I10 both keyed to the shaft. Links I12 are each pivoted at one end to one of said levers. I10 and at the other ends engage the pins I22. This arrangement prevents one side of the plow from moving faster or slower than the other, since any motion imparted to one side will be equalized on the other side through the links, levers and shaft. It will be noted that when the plow is in its raised position, shown in Fig. 5, the levers I'I0 are substantially upright, and thus also help to take the load oif the hydraulic mechanism.

In order to brace the bottom of the plow against backward tilting because of the pressure of snow, 9. special type of thrust bar is provided. The thrust bar I92 consists of an I beam. The front end of this thrust bar is secured by a pin I94 to the lower corner of the plow supporting frame. Ubviously one of these bars is arranged on each side of the snow remover.

The fan casing 46 is mounted to rotate for example in the manner shown in the Wandscheer Patent No. 1,886,069. It is important to be able to shift the position of the spout 40 from one side to the other of the snow remover so that the direction of the stream of snow may be changed. For this purpose, I provide a hydraulic device for controlling the position of the fan casing. A lever I96 in the cab of the truck controls the supply of fluid under pressure from a reservoir to pipes 202 extending from this reservoir to the front of the truck, and connected through couplings 204 to flexible hoses 206.

Mounted on the cross member 94 is a bracket which supports one end of a hydraulic cylinder 2I2. The member 04 also supports a pair of spaced U-shaped rails 2 between which slides a cross head. A piston slidable in the cylinder 2I2 has an extension which is connected by a pin to the cross head. A pin 222 carried by the cross head forms a. pivot for one end of a link 224 which at its other end engages a pivot pin fixed in the rear wall of the fan casing. Pipes 206 on opposite sides of the plow are connected respectively to pipes opening into opposite ends of the cylinder 2I2. It is evident that by admitting fluid under pressure to one side or the other of the piston the cross head will be caused to move and will shift the spout 48 from one side to the other.

.While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, and separate means at opposite sides of the vehicle to exert separate forces on the snow remover to raise and lower the same with respect to the vehicle, means separate from said raising and lowering means to equalize the effect of said raising and lowering means on opposite sides of the snow remover.

2. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, and separate means at opposite sides of the vehicle to exert separate forces on the snow remover to raise the same with respect to the vehicle, means to equalize the effect of said raising means on opposite sides of the snow remover, said last means comprising a shaft extending laterally of the snow remover mounted on the vehicle, a plurality of levers at opposite sides of the vehicle fixedly secured on said shaft and means separate from said raising means connecting said levers to the snow remover.

3. In a snow removing mechanism, a vehicle, a snow remover, means to mount said snow remover on the vehicle for vertical movement with respect thereto, means to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the vehicle, and means to equalize the efiect of said raising means on op posite sides of the snow remover, said means comprising a shaft mounted on said vehicle and extending transversely with respect thereto, a pair of arms carried on said shaft at opposite sides of the vehicle, and links separate from said raising and lowering means pivoted to said arms and to said snow remover.

4. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, and separate means at opposite sides of the vehicle to exert separate force on the snow remover to raise the same with respect to the vehicle, means to equalize the effect of said raising means on opposite sides of the snow remover, said last means comprising a shaft extending laterally of the snow remover mounted on the vehicle, a plurality of levers at opposite sides of the vehicle fixedly secured on said shaft, and links separate from said raising means pivoted to said levers and to the snow remover.

5. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, and separate means at opposite sides of the vehicle to exert separate forces on the snow remover to raise the same with respect to the vehicle, means to equalize the effect of said raising means on opposite sides of the snow remover, said last means comprising a shaft extending laterally of the snow remover mounted on the vehicle, a plurality of levers at opposite sides of the vehicle flxedly secured on said shaft, links separate from said raising means pivoted to said levers, lugs on said snow remover, and pins passing through said links and said lugs.

6. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, and means at opposite sides of the vehicle to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the vehicle, means to equalize the effect of said lifting means on opposite sides of the snow remover, said last means comprising a shaft extending laterally. of the snow 'remover mounted on the vehicle, a plurality of levers at opposite sides of the vehicle flxedly secured on said shaft, links pivoted to said levers, and pins connecting said links and the snow remover, said raising means including members enaging said pins.

7. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, and means at opposite sides of the vehicle to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the vehicle, means to equalize the eifect of said lifting means on opposite sides of the snow remover, said last means comprising a shaft extending laterally oi the snow remover mounted on the vehicle, a plurality of levers at opposite sides of the vehicle fixedly secured on said shaft, links pivoted to said levers, lugs on said snow remover, and pins passing through said links and said lugs, said raising means including members engaging said pins.

8. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, means to guide the snow remover for straight vertical movement with respect to the vehicle, independent means at opposite sides of the vehicle to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the vehicle, and means separate from said raising and lowering means to equalize the eifect of said raising and lowering means on opposite sides of the snow remover.

9. Ina snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, means to mount the snow remover for vertical movement with respect to the vehicle, means to raise and lower the snow remover with respect thereto, said raising and lowering means comprising fluid pressure cylinders, means to supply fluid under pressure to said cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, means connecting said pistons to said snow remover, and means separate from said raising and lowering means to equilize the effect of said fluid pressure cylinders on the snow remover.

10. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, means mounting the snow remover on the vehicle for vertical movement with respect thereto, means for raising and lowering the snow remover comprising a fluid pressure device at each side of the vehicle, means separate from said raising and lowering means to equalize the effect of said fluid pressure devices on the snow remover, and means separate from said raising and lowering means to connect said equalizing means to said snow remover.

11. In a snow removing mechanism comprising a vehicle, a snow remover, means mounting the snow remover on the vehicle for vertical movement with respect thereto, means for raising and lowering the snow remover comprising a fluid pressure device at each side of the vehicle, and means to equalize the effect of said fluid pressure devices on the snow remover, said last means including a shaft and arms fixed on said shaft and means separate from said raising and lowering means connecting said arms to the snow remover.

12. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said equalizing means extending transversely of the vehicle.

13. In a snow removing mechanism, a truck having a frame, a power operated snow remover, and means at opposite sides of the truck frame to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the truck, each of said last means comprising an arm pivoted on said vehicle, means connecting said arm to the snow remover, a substantially vertically disposed cylinder at the side of the frame, means connecting said cylinder to the truck, a piston slidable in the cylinder, said piston being pivoted to said arm, means to supply fluid under pressure to said cylinder, means to equalize the effect of said raising and lowering means on the snow remover including means separate from said raising and lowering means connected to said snow remover.

14. In a snow removing mechanism, a vehicle having a frame, a snow remover mounted on the vehicle and separate means at opposite sides of the vehicle to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the vehicle, each of said last means comprising an arm pivoted on said vehicle at the side of the frame and extending forward in a direction substantially longitudinally of the frame, means connecting said arm to the snow remover, and controllable means at the side of the frame to exert a force on said arm in a direction to raise the snow remover, means to equalize the eflect exerted by said force exerting means on the snow remover including means separate from said force exerting means connected to said snow remover.

WALTER E. KLAUER. 

